Abuse Allegations Blamed on Jackson Extortionist : Inquiry: Accusations were made after singer refused to pay $20 million, a spokesman says.

Representatives of Michael Jackson said Tuesday that allegations of child abuse that led to a police investigation of the singer came from frustrated extortionists who tried unsuccessfully to get $20 million from Jackson.

“A demand for $20 million was made and presented. It was flatly and consistently refused. The refusals have in our opinion caused what has transpired in the last few days,” Anthony Pellicano, a private investigator for Jackson, said at a brief midday news conference.

Tuesday’s repeated denials came in response to news reports that Jackson, 34, is the subject of an investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department that, according to Pellicano, centers on child abuse allegations. Law enforcement officials have acknowledged the investigation, but refuse to discuss details.

Rumors spread quickly Tuesday as a swarm of media tracked leads about the identity of the alleged victim. But Deanne Tilton-Durfee, executive director of Los Angeles County’s Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, cautioned that many may be jumping the gun.

“These kinds of investigations go on thousands of times a year. . . . It is premature to attach much credibility to this yet. Celebrities are vulnerable to extortion,” said Tilton-Durfee, who said she has seen many allegations made against high-profile entertainers that were not substantiated.

Of the 2.9 million reports of child abuse made nationwide in 1992, only about 40% are substantiated, she said. Last year the Police Department investigated 4,213 child abuse reports, resulting in 1,219 arrests.

Authorities are obligated to investigate all credible reports they receive of physical or sexual child abuse, although such inquiries are supposed to be confidential until criminal charges are filed.

In Los Angeles, child abuse reports normally are called in to police or the Department of Children’s Services, which cross-references their cases. While Children’s Services investigates to determine if a child is in danger and should be removed from a home, police typically undertake a parallel investigation only if there is reason to suspect criminal activity.

Search warrants--such as those that were served Saturday on Jackson’s homes in Century City and Los Olivos--are not uncommon in child abuse investigations. “Legally, a search warrant can be used very liberally with an allegation of abuse,” Tilton-Durfee said.

In such cases, police often are looking for instruments used in abuse or pornography a child has described, according to Pamela Mohr, executive director of the Alliance for Children’s Rights, a county legal services group.

Jackson, who is in Thailand launching his “Dangerous” tour, issued a brief statement Tuesday in which he asserted he was guilty of “no wrongdoing.”

“I am confident the (Police) Department will conduct a fair and thorough investigation and that its result will demonstrate that there was no wrongdoing on my part,” said the statement, which was read aloud by Howard Weitzman, the singer’s lawyer.

“I intend to continue with my world tour, and look forward to seeing all of you in each of the scheduled cities. I am grateful for the overwhelming support of my fans throughout the world. I love you all. Thank you. Michael.”

Weitzman, who has defended other celebrities, including John DeLorean and Kim Basinger, refused to answer questions from more than 50 reporters and photographers who crammed into his office.

The reclusive singer’s personal life has long been fodder for tabloids, which have portrayed him as a strange loner, a man-child obsessed with plastic surgery, children and exotic animals.

During a February TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, Jackson said he surrounds himself with children to make up for his lonely childhood as a performer with the Jackson Five.

Throughout the day Tuesday, clerks at the county courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles were inundated with media requests for the divorce records of a prominent Los Angeles businessman rumored to be the stepfather of the child involved.

Daily Variety and one Los Angeles television station had reported that the accusations were made by the alleged victim’s mother.

Pellicano confirmed only that the allegations had been lodged by someone the singer knew.